The Government will be ready with the new health plan in September. The updates in the governmental program will be finished at the end of August, the governmental PR service said after Monday's Cabinet meeting at the Eurxiongrad Residence.

Popular musicians and ensembles from all over the world renown such as Gidon Kremer and his Kremerata Baltica, the British Hilliard Ensemble, the New Russia Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yuri Bashmet take part side byside with new names in the 2008 edition of the March Music Days Festival hosted by Rousse in March 15 through to 30, Festival Director Iva Chavdarova says.

The leaders of the three governmental parties in the ruling coalition decided to cut social insurance contributions 3 per cent, up pensions by 10% from October and introduce a flat tax of 10 per cent for individual incomes as of next year. The decision paves a way for a big change in Bulgarian tax system

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp appears to have won enough backing from members of the Bancroft family and a family trust to secure a takeover of Dow Jones. The report by the Dow Jones-owned daily says Bancroft family members, who control 32 per cent of the board's voting power, have agreed to back News Corp's $US5 billion takeover offer for the company.

The Democratic party's US presidential candidate Barack Obama said he would launch military action against al-Qaeda in Pakistan without the consent of Musharraf's government. He Obama gave a speech to outline his foreign policy positions.

Bulgaria decided to waive $57m of debt owed by Libya following the release of six nurses convicted of infecting Libyan children with HIV. The money will be diverted to an international fund for the victims and their families.